Breakthrough of extracellular vesicles in pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis

Zichang Liu; Yu Zhuang; Lianfei Fang; Changyong Yuan; Xudong Wang; Kaili Lin

doi:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.10.012

Breakthrough of extracellular vesicles in pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis

Bioact Mater. 2022 Oct 20:22:423-452. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.10.012. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Authors

Zichang Liu^{1

2}, Yu Zhuang^{1

3}, Lianfei Fang², Changyong Yuan⁴, Xudong Wang¹, Kaili Lin¹

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Research Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Regenerative Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200011, China.
² Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 389 Xincun Road, 200065 Shanghai, PR China.
⁴ School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Department of Dental Implant, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent whole-joint disease that causes disability and pain and affects a patient's quality of life. However, currently, there is a lack of effective early diagnosis and treatment. Although stem cells can promote cartilage repair and treat OA, problems such as immune rejection and tumorigenicity persist. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can transmit genetic information from donor cells and mediate intercellular communication, which is considered a functional paracrine factor of stem cells. Increasing evidences suggest that EVs may play an essential and complex role in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of OA. Here, we introduced the role of EVs in OA progression by influencing inflammation, metabolism, and aging. Next, we discussed EVs from the blood, synovial fluid, and joint-related cells for diagnosis. Moreover, we outlined the potential of modified and unmodified EVs and their combination with biomaterials for OA therapy. Finally, we discuss the deficiencies and put forward the prospects and challenges related to the application of EVs in the field of OA.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Diagnosis; Extracellular vesicles; Osteoarthritis; Treatment.

Publication types

Review